The tasty fly looks up at me with an open mouth, gaping for air. Clamping it shut, he glares at me, yet blushing blood red. I bite my lower lip with an accomplished grin. My clawed fingers reaching my fangs. The white liquid is licked away by the long tongue of mine. The fly before me shudders, his face contorting in conflicting instincts.
"I said I wouldn't hurt you." I snicker.
My eyes roll as I saunter away towards the nest chamber. My words slither out to further taunt my pet.
"Although Envy is another creature entirely…"
Carver shivers, a fearful confused prey. I sneak a peek at him before returning to bed.
There is little to do as a pet; eat, sleep and fuck. While the master is off at work, I wait.
I curl into my self, a numbed dead emotion expressed.
'How long must I play loyal bitch?' A nasty hiss escaped my slim throat. 'That Envy has been acting odd as of late.'
My master has begun requiring more than my job description. A snuggle, petting my hair, offering me gifts. He gave me the most confounding look this morning, desperation, longing.
A spindly leg pops in, then two, then eight from the nest entrance. Envy approaches, looking down at me, a stare that sends warning bells inside me.
My arms and legs stretch seductively. My eyes a sweetened color. An ever so loving smile aimed at him.
Envy shifts into his human appearance. He sighs out, either frustrated or sad. Plopping on the bed, he stares at me in thought.
Taking my role preemptively, I plant myself on his lap, his body shifting to face me. He only frowns at me. His eyes locked on my own, probing.
"You don't have to do this anymore." His voice is flat, controlled, hitting me like bricks.
My persona slips for a moment, a predator's gaze replacing my perfected mask.
Thoughts of how to dispose of this threat. It didn't last.
"I don't want fake affection." He paused at my befuddled look. "You can stay. I will feed you, but don't touch me like this anymore." He added at the end his voice faltering. "Don't pretend with me. I prefer you as 'you'."
I can't comprehend his motive.
'Why would he keep me, if it doesn't benifit him?' My brain reaches only a logical conclusion. 'He has gone numb. Perhaps I still entertain him, or give him status?'
My expression flattens, weary of this new state of Envy. I look down at the male beneath me.
"I'm not a fool. Tell me what you want spider."
The coldness in my voice, causes Envy to flinch slightly. He opens his mouth to speak then closes it. A feeling of pity flashes on his face. He breathes in, resolving himself.
"You're smart Snow. Im different from others of our kind. You have noticed this…" He eyes me for confirmation he expects. I'm a fridgit doll, unmoving. He continues. "I want an equal not a pet." He eyes me desperately for some understanding on my end.
I come to a quick conclusion. A pack mentality without actually cooperation. That is what spiders have lived on in the forest expecting. Imagine if those powerful creatures worked together. To subjugate all those beneath them. A true pack, led by a powerful need to survive. I could understand this, this possibility. He wanted a hunting companion, not a pet.
This change in relationship established, I slid off Envy to sit near him on the bed. He visibly relaxed, he rose up to face me once more.
"There will be rules then in our pack." Envy blinked at me, a confused one. I elaborated, misunderstanding again. "If there is no order, then this will be no different then the group we exist in."
Envy's greenish brown eyebrow twitches, he rubs his face and groans. I wait for him to listen properly this time. Perhaps he is not as intelligent as I once thought.
"First, we act as one being. No descions, hunts, or bringing one into the pack without complete agreement. Survival will be at stake if one acts on their own." Envy nods at me in agreement, giving in to my teachings. "Second, prey is to be shared equally in the pack there is no hoarding. I need not explain this to you."
"Pleasure is not to be used as trade, or a lure." Envy adds his own, one that seems purposeless. I tilt my head at him. He quickly adds. "It's too risky for the spider involved, losing a pack member will weaken it."
"The rewards…" I speak up, interrupted by a suddenly agressive man.
"You have evaded problems till now, but that is not a guarantee. Others have ended up toys, or even food to less than gentle spiders." He adds with a hiss. "Other spiders are not as merciful as me beauty!" He scrunches his hands into fists, eye full of emotions.
I'm taken back by his sudden assertiveness. Envy has always been the rational type. Thinking, scheming, not reacting like this. It is not a good sign for a change in personality such as this. I narrow my eyes, but agree nonetheless. I could always discover his real motives later. This partnership could still benifit me greatly.
"The last thing." I eye up the emotion riddled Envy. "As an equal, I want a different name. Snow and beauty are too delicate, it shows weakness." I add with an arrogant grin. "Something powerful, or to instill fear would suit me far better."
Disappointment covers the green spider's face. He can only nod despite his loss. A show of good will at his new pack mate.
"Do you have one in mind?" He mumbles out.
I shake my head, entering deep thought. Something worthy of me, to terrify my enemies. Envy offered up several options, sticking to a clear theme. Wrath, Fury, Rage… perhaps he assumed similar names amoung the pack would lead to cohesion. I decided to ignore him in favor of my own choice later on.
Ending our conversation, envy and I settled for another night together. Only this time he kept to the edge of the bed, avoiding me. I felt an odd sense of cold, used to nearby warmth. I fell asleep to distant heartbeats.